Thank you to everyone who read my first fic! This is a quick warning that I'm fully exercising creative licence here so bare with me on some elements of this story. Love and hugs x
Dew was still perched on the underbrush and birds were still serenading the dawn as Regina lay in wait behind a large oak tree. Scanning the road before her, she could see nothing out of the ordinary. Several leaves made their way up the path, dancing on the breeze, before settling again in the rich brown earth that carpeted the forest floor. Sunlight clawed its way through the canopy far overhead and bathed Regina's face in dappled gold, illuminating regal features which were wasted on her current attire; a long sleeved cotton top covered with a fur and leather gillet covered her top half, pulled in at the waist with a thick leather belt. Tight jodhpurs accentuated her toned legs and were accompanied by knee high leather boots. She exuded all the airs and graces possible for such humble clothing and, in Robin's opinion, couldn't have looked better if she was adorned in Queen Snow's finest silk and jewels. She certainly far exceeded Snow's beauty. She had softer features and much kinder eyes, although even from this angle he could see the heartache she harboured there.
Robin was crouched amongst the undergrowth, in a similar position to Regina, around two yards to her right and on the opposite side of the road, just behind the tree she had felled to block the way. He could only see the top half of her body as she was well concealed but he could sense she was something more than the regular bandits that frequented this part of the forest. She had hardly moved an inch in the twenty minutes he had been watching her observe the road. Even in her state of intense concentration, her lips were curved into a slight smile which plumped her cheeks and made her eyes sparkle. Her beauty almost blinded him to the fact she was clearly waiting to make the same ambush he himself had been planning for a number of weeks, but that didn't seem to bother him. He was fascinated by her. Enthralled.
Robin's head whipped around as a twig snapped to his right which reminded him of why he was here. His "getaway horse" was obviously getting restless with little Roland sat "guarding" him. Roland was why he was here. Robin needed to improve circumstances for himself and his boy, who had already been through so much at the tender age of 4. Disbanding from his Merry Men had been the first step towards this but he never anticipated how little honest work paid, and was therefore forced back to other means of supporting them. He let his eyes return to the road and to the woman on the other side of it. Her eyes were now focussed on him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention accordingly.
Regina had heard the slight disturbance too and immediately diverted her attention to the source of the noise, expecting to see a woodland creature. Instead, after looking up the road in the other direction, she saw a man opposite her. A bolt of panic surged through her veins and instinct told her to reach for her quiver but she couldn't move. She felt no fear. He was gorgeous, there was no other word for it. His strong jawline was peppered with stubble which made him horrendously attractive. His lips were drawn into a line of concentration but she was sure she could see the hint of dimples that would appear should he choose to smile. Prominent muscles strained at his shirt and rippled as he twisted back towards her. The movement should have forced Regina to regain her composure but then their eyes met…warm, inviting, ocean blue and caramel brown. It was as if he could see right into her soul. She should have felt vulnerable under that gaze but the one overriding sensation that coursed through her body was safety. For the first time in years she felt safe. Goosebumps erupted from head to toe.
A low rumble rolled towards the outlaw and the bandit, signalling the approach of their prize. Four sets of hooves pounded the earth as the ebony creatures surged into view pulling an equally magnificent carriage behind them. The pair leading the procession brayed and slowed their party down to a halt in front of the felled tree. The black knights sat at the rear of the vehicle shouted orders to those commanding the horses, on who should remain where and who should investigate and remove the tree blocking their path. A helmeted head appeared from the carriage window enquiring about the disturbance.
All the while this was going on, both Robin and Regina were inching closer to the road. Both were alternating between staring at each other and the carriage. Both were attempting to calculate who was going to make the first move. This charade played out for ten minutes. Neither the Outlaw or the Bandit made their move, despite ample opportunity. Three of the four knights were now inspecting the tree and deciding how to remove it. Regina sighed in exasperation, pulled an arrow from her quiver and attached it to her bow, readying herself to explode into the open.
Yet again a sound from Robin's side of the road stole her attention. But this time it was different. It wasn't the Outlaw. He seemed oblivious to the disturbance.
"Papa?" the word came so quietly Regina was unsure if she had heard it at all.
The thief still hadn't moved but the knights had jumped into action. All four of them unsheathed their swords in a heartbeat, the deafening sound of metal grinding together filled the air. The word came again but clearer and louder this time. It was definitely a small boy, of that she could be sure.
"Papa? Did you get them yet?" an innocent mop of black curls stumbled through the undergrowth and out into the road. The next few seconds were a blur.
All four knights, including the one manning the carriage, leapt towards the small boy with unnecessary ferocity considering his size and age. Regina followed suit, drawn bow aloft, with the sole aim of protecting the child. A strangled cry punctured the air followed by a man's voice screaming "ROLAND."
Without looking, she knew who that voice belonged to, and her sense of duty to save the helpless boy intensified as she thundered towards him with shouts and arrows aimed at her heels. One of the knights was now dangerously close to Roland and as such Regina loosed her arrow. She watched it glance off his helmet leaving a silver streak where midnight black paint had once coated it, and restrung her bow. Roland had the expression of a rabbit caught in the headlights. Terrified past the point of tears, he could only stare at the scene in front of him.
Robin had almost caught up to the woman he had just witnessed save his son and was now screaming at her in an attempt to help.
"OUR HORSE IS IN THE FOREST! TAKE HIM THERE!"
He saw her shoot a look at him over her shoulder and continue towards Roland. She replaced the arrow to her quiver and slung her bow across her back, before spreading her arms wide and scooping up Roland's tiny form into the safety of her embrace. Darting into the forest she could hear the child's stifled sobs against her chest and began stroking his hair in an effort to soothe him. She heard only one body crash through the undergrowth behind her and a quick glance confirmed it was the boy's father. With no guarantee the knights weren't preparing to follow, she kept her pace and ran straight for the thickest tree trunk she could see in her eye line.
Upon reaching her intended destination she stopped and positioned herself against the far side of the trunk facing away from the direction she had just come from. They must have been at least forty feet from the road by now, and satisfied they were in relative safety, she slid down the tree to the base of the trunk and rocked Roland gently in her lap, calming him with whispered assurances that they were safe and that she was going to protect him.
Moments later Robin joined the pair and without thinking crouched down and gathered both of them into a bear hug. Regina immediately retreated from his touch.
"What in the world do you think you're doing?! He could have been killed! Why was he alone?! Surely you could have found someone to look after him for the duration of whatever foolish task that was supposed to be!" she gestured over her shoulder as she shouted her questions in hushed tones, and continued to rock Roland in a steady rhythm. The volume of his sobbing had subsided but his fear was still evident. His shoulders were shaking, he hadn't removed his head from the crook of Regina's neck and the fur of her gillet was balled in his tiny fists.
Robin looked down at his son and let out a sigh
"It's just us, milady," he whispered, eyes downcast. "I have no one Roland can be left with. I thought he'd be okay with Hamish."
She looked up, her eyes throwing him a questioning look from under her prominent frown.
"Our horse." he answered with a hint of embarrassment.
Regina returned her attention to Roland, thoroughly concerned with his wellbeing. The three of them sat in silence for several minutes before Robin spoke again.
"Thank you, milady."
"It's Regina," she replied, removing her right hand from Roland's head to extend it towards him.
"Robin," he took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "I owe you a debt."
Please let me know what you think!
